Maritime
MWUN Accuses NIMASA Of Not Training Indigenous Seafarers
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Rivers State Branch, has accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of not training indigenous seafarers in the country.
The union also accused the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led agency of not providing jobs for competent indigenous seafarers on board vessels.
Chairman, MWUN, Rivers State Branch, Comrade Jonah Jumbo, made the accusations on Wednesday during a telephone interview with The Tide on the state of maritime industry in the country.
Jonah said over 1,000 trained indigenous seafarers are jobless in the country even with their Certificate of Competence (CoC) to man vessels.
He frowned at situations where unqualified expatriates took the jobs that should have been given to competent indigenous seafarers.
Comrade Jonah called on NIMASA to control the influx of unqualified expatriates in the maritime sector and engage indigenous seafarers in line with the law regulating the maritime sector.
“I blame NIMASA and the government for disappointing the indigenous seafarers in the region. Dakuku Peterside is not helping us”, he said.
He urged NIMASA to partner with MWUN in the area of training indigenous seafarers.
He also advised the seafarers to upgrade themselves with necessary documents so as to secure jobs in the industry.
Customs Tasks PH Area 2, Onne To Generate N140bn
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, has set a revenue target of N140 billion for Port Harcourt Area 2, Onne Command in Rivers State.
This is as the service has set a daily revenue target of N1.8 billion and N1.5 billion for the Apapa Area Command and Tin Can Island Port Area Command, in Lagos State, respectively.
This was contained in a breakdown of 2020 revenue targets set for the various Customs commands made available to The Tide, yesterday.
The NCS said the targets would enable it meet its N2 trillion revenue target earmarked for the 2020 fiscal year.
The Federal Government had set a revenue target of N1.5 trillion for the NCS this year but the Customs Comptroller-General jerked it up to N2 trillion.
Customs total collection in 2019 stood at N1.3 trillion.
But Ali, in a circular signed by Deputy Comptroller-General, Talatu Isa, approved the revenue targets and directed immediate implementation.
The Apapa Area Command is expected to generate N607 billion for the year while the Tin Can Area Command is expected to rake in N507 billion.
The statement added that the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Lagos is expected to rake in N238 billion.
The Customs high command said in the circular that the allocated figures were arrived at based on the peculiarities of the commands.
Recall that clearing agents under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) had, penultimate week, vowed to resist attempts by the Customs to arm-twist traders and clearing agents in its bid to realise its self-imposed N2 trillion revenue target.
Secretary General of ANLCA, Babatunde Mukaila, said Customs should focus more on trade facilitation rather than laying too much emphasis on revenue generation.
By: Chinedu Wosu
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
